Unpacking: Unpack a Compelling Story

How can a game without dialogue or text tell a story? That’s a question answered by Unpacking.

Unpacking is a puzzle story game released in November 2021 by Witch Beam. This single-player game is available to play on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Windows, and Mobile. 

Unpacking tells its four-hour story in a compelling and unique way- through the items you unpack from boxes and the different environments the main character moves to. There is no dialogue or text in Unpacking.

One of the most interesting elements to Unpacking is the lack of information you get on the main character. The whole game, you’re left wondering whose life you are watching unfold. You don’t know what they look like or even what their name is; you have to piece together guesses of who they are. By paying attention to the environments and what’s in the main character’s boxes, you can learn little pieces about the character.

Through the stuff you unpack, you get to learn about them. They have lots of arts supplies, meaning they must have an artsy side. They have bookshelves filled with board games and video games, which alludes to what they like to do in their free time. Pictures and postcards that are kept and hung up on the walls show a close-knit family and friend group.

The other way you can learn about the main character is through the environments they move into. Unpacking takes you through the life of the main character, from college dorms to their first apartment to moving in with a partner. Much like real life, each chapter (level) in Unpacking is a whole new location, showing the character’s progression into adulthood.

Unpacking is a very simple game that just has you taking objects out of boxes and putting them into their proper locations around the room. This simplicity and the calm soundtrack make Unpacking a very zen and relaxing game to play. 

Outside of Unpacking making daily chores compelling, there are two downsides I’ve found to the game- it's short and particular in where you place objects, which can be challenging when it's a small object. The graphics in the game are cute but not super detailed, making it hard to tell what certain things are. That pink blob of pictures is actually soap and goes next to the sink, and not a magnet. 

Even though the game is short, it leaves a decent-sized impression on the player. Unpacking’s creative way of telling a story is its best component, and its strange ability to make stacking plates and organizing books fun. 

My Rating